Requests for authorised prescriber endorsement You are here:HomeResearch & EducationResearch OfficeRequests for authorised prescriber endorsement Under certain circumstances, where patients may require access to medicines or medical devices that have not been approved for use in Australia by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), a medical practitioner may be granted authority (under section 19(5) of the Therapeutic Goods Act) to become an authorised prescriber of a specified unapproved therapeutic good (or class of unapproved therapeutic goods) to specific patients for a particular indication. In order to grant authorised prescriber status, the TGA must be satisfied of the following: the medical practitioner has the training and expertise appropriate for the condition being treated and the proposed use of the product; the Authorised Prescriber must be able to best determine the needs of the patient; and to monitor the outcome of therapy. In order to apply to the TGA to become an authorised prescriber, practitioners must be endorsed by an Ethics Committee, or, where they do not have access to an appropriate Ethics Committee, a relevant specialist college. When a practitioner in engaged in clinical practice in a hospital, the Ethics Committee of that hospital should provide the endorsement. To apply to the St Vincent’s Hospital (Sydney) HREC for endorsement to apply to the TGA as an Authorised Prescriber, clinicians are required to use the: Application for HREC endorsement for the purpose of becoming an Authorised Prescriber available on standard forms page. As well as providing the following: Consumer medical information if the product is approved in another country Relevant literature regarding product use For devices, a copy of the manufacturer instructions for use Any other documents relevant to submission A copy of the completed TGA form; ‘Agreement to treatment directions authorisation of prescribers under section 19(5), 32CM or section 41HC of the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989’ For more information regarding the Authorised Prescriber scheme, including the TGA application form for authorised prescribers, please refer to the TGA website - Access to Unapproved Products.